Japanese Alcohol

1. Beer

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan. The largest manufacturers are Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory. Most restaurants and izakaya serve one of these brands. The standard beer is a light lager with 5% alcohol.

It’s common to order draft beer at a restaurant. There are typically two or three sizes, but the 500 ml medium size is the most popular. Bottled beer is typically ordered for sharing with the table.

2. Happoshu

Happoshu is a low malt beer. It was created in 1989 as a cheaper alternative to beer when a new tax law came into effect. Happoshu that used less than 67% malt qualified for a lower tax rate, making the beer-like beverage less expensive than beer.

Now, the tax rate is set to tax happoshu and beer the same by October 2026.

3. Sake

Sake is Japan’s national alcoholic beverage and is called nihonshu in Japanese. It is made from rice, water, koji mold, and yeast, which involves several stages and fermentation. With an alcohol content of around 15%, it is considered a rice wine.

Premium sake is determined by the amount of rice grain that has been polished or removed. The more polished, the better the sake. Ginjo Sake uses rice grain that has been polished to 60%, meaning 40% of the grain has been removed. Dai Ginjo is considered the most premium sake and uses rice grain that has been polished to 50%.

Some sake has distilled alcohol added in order to save time and money. Junmai has no added alcohol. Honjozo includes a small amount of added alcohol to enhance the flavor.

4. Whisky

High-quality whisky brands in Japan are Yamazaki and Nikka.

The most common ways to drink whisky are straight, on the rocks, mixed with water, or as a highball. A highball is made with whisky and soda water and has an alcohol content of around 5-10%.

5. Shochu

Shochu was first produced in the 1500s in Kyushu. It is a distilled spirit with an alcohol content of 20-40%. The base is commonly made from rice, sweet potato, or barley. Mugi shochu, made from barley, is popular because it has a milder flavor.

Shochu is typically served straight, on the rocks, or mixed with water, oolong tea, or fruit juice. When served with oolong tea, it is called Oolong Hai.

6. Chuhai

Chuhai is short for Shochu Highball. It is around 3-8% alcohol and made with shochu, fruit juice, and soda water. There are many flavors, such as lemon, grapefruit, lime, peach, and ume. The drinks are also called sours.

For example, a lemon sour or lemon chuhai is lemon juice, soda water, and shochu. You can also find chuhai premixed in cans at stores.